In the Fiscal Year 2017 budget submission, the President is proposing $182.3 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The funding will continue to support the largest transformation in VA history and expand access to health care and benefits. Veteran organization MOAA identifies changes they’d like to see in the proposed budget, including smaller TRICARE fee hikes for retirees. As noted, the budget submission is just the first step in a long process.

The Veterans Affairs Department’s budget plan for health care next year would boost spending on mental health treatment and services, caregiver programs and health care for female veterans. The budget request for fiscal 2016, which starts Oct. 1, includes $56 billion in spending for veterans health care as well as $63.3 billion in advance funding for 2017. A coalition of veterans groups praised President Obama’s fiscal 2016 budget request for VA programs after it was released Monday, but said the plan still falls more than $1 billion short of what …

The major changes outlined in the new military compensation report released Thursday cannot become law without congressional action, and so far lawmakers are viewing the massive document as a conversation starter, not a blueprint. That’s fine with outside advocates including veteran service organizations, who are warning not to rush the complex proposals for overhauling military retirement and health care.

The long-awaited report on military compensation will propose fundamental changes to military retirement and health care benefits, according to several people familiar with the report. A grandfather clause would shield today’s service members from any retirement changes; a new retirement system would apply only to future recruits. However, the commission is proposing some changes in health care benefits that could affect troops now on active duty.

Troops will see smaller pay raises and housing and health care benefits next year under a defense budget agreement unveiled Tuesday in Congress. Lawmakers agreed to White House and Pentagon requests to reduce personnel and equipment costs by capping pay raises at 1 percent, slowing housing allowance increases, and ratcheting up Tricare prescription copays.

In marking the one-year anniversary of the 16-day federal government shutdown, which caused huge disruptions for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the DAV (Disabled American Veterans) has called on Congress to guarantee veterans are protected from future shutdowns and late appropriation bills. DAV has urged Congress to ensure that if there are future budget delays, or even another government shutdown, there is not a disruption to veterans’ programs, benefits and services.

On Thursday, the Senate passed a compromise bill allowing veterans to seek private care and adding $17 billion to the Department of Veterans Affairs budget. This will allow the VA to hire more doctors to address long wait lists, open 27 new outpatient clinics, and implement other initiatives. The final vote in favor was 91-3.
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